Hezekiah’s Prayer

Isaiah 37:9-38

 

Who:

• The Prophet Isaiah records the historical events between Hezekiah King of Judah (reign 716-687 B.C.) and Sennacherib King of Assyria (704-681 B.C.)

Background:

• Hezekiah initiated a drastic reaction to the idolatry that prevailed under Ahaz. Being twenty-five years of age when he began to reign, he had observed the gradual disintegration and capitulation of the northern kingdom as the Assyrians advanced southward. Keenly did he realize that Israel had been taken into captivity because of its disobedience to God’s laws. Placing his confidence in God, Hezekiah was concerned to renew the covenant his people had broken. Not only in Judah, but also extending north into Israel, he led an effective reform. (ISBE)
• During this reformation Hezekiah destroyed the bronze serpent provided by Moses (Nu. 21:4–9), in order to terminate its use as an object of worship. Inspired by the king, the people went out to demolish pillars, Asherim, high places, and altars throughout the land. With the organization and employment of the priests and Levites, the tithe was reinstituted for their support. Feasts and seasons were again observed in accordance with the law. (ISBE)

What:

• The Assyrian army will attack Jerusalem and conquer it for Sennacherib… (vv.10-13)
• Hezekiah prays to the Lord for deliverance. (vv.14-20)
• The LORD delivers Jerusalem from the Assyrians. (vv.36-38)

How:

• One angel of the LORD killing 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. (v.36)

Why:

• The pre-ordained attack from Sennacherib… (v.26)
• Deliverance of Judah due to Hezekiah’s prayer… (v.21)
• That all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God. (v.20)

For discussion and reflection:

1)    Does prayer change things or outcomes? Give examples if possible.

2)    Should we lay down our concerns before God? All of them or just the important issues?

3)    What should be the ultimate objective of our petitions? The chief end of man?

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

King Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 32:7–8.

Darwin's theory breaks down.

"If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down. But I can find out no such case."
Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species,

Well Mr. Darwin, consider this case:
http://www.veritas-ucsb.org/library/origins/GRAPHICS-CAPTIONS/Flagellum.html

Bacterial Flagellum

www.veritas-ucsb.org

The bacterial flagellum is an example of what Michael Behe describes as an irreducibly complex system. In his book, Darwin's Black Box, he explains that such irreducibly complex systems could not have arisen by a gradual step-by-step Darwinian process.

Transient: passing especially quickly into and out of existence.

"The motto of Ecclesiastes is not, as the niv translation reads, “Meaningless! Meaningless! . . . Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Eccles. 1:2). Neither is it “All is to no purpose!” The Hebrew word hebel is best translated as “transience,” or “transitoriness,” for it has at its root the sense of a “fog,” “mist,” or “change.” In Ecclesiastes it is used to capture the suffering that arises from the enormous amount of change in our lives, the lack of permanence and stability that appears to be everywhere.

Whereas the book of Job highlights the suffering that comes to an individual, Ecclesiastes looks more holistically at life, culture, and the general direction of history. It poses a question that expresses another aspect of the turmoil of the human soul: “What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” (Eccles. 1:3). The problem in life, according to the writer of Ecclesiastes, also called the “Preacher” or the “Teacher,” is that everything seems to be changing all the time. Life is just too brief and too temporary. Is it worth all the trouble, all the working, living, and striving?

... In the midst of all the changes in life, there are anchor points in fearing God and observing his commandments. God has deliberately made everything beautiful and has built people so that they have a capacity and a hunger to know how everything fits together. Yet without knowing God, it is impossible to know “A” from “Z,” the beginning from the end (Eccles. 3:11). “Change” is a fact of life (and often a source of suffering), but that does not have to be our final answer to reality or life. Knowing God is the greatest goal imaginable, for in knowing him there is joy and the ability to find pleasure and satisfaction in every sphere of life."

WALTER C . KAISER JR. In Christopher W. Morgan, Robert A. Peterson, Editors et al., Suffering and the Goodness of God (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).

The day of Pentecost

The day of Pentecost (Acts 2) marks the shifting of God’s redemptive purpose from a particular people (the descendants of Abraham via Isaac and Jacob) to all peoples. On that day the Church was formed and empowered for its worldwide mission; the event thus marks the resumption of universal history, with which the Bible begins (Gen. 1–11). Accordingly, Pentecost has primary importance to all who are concerned with the nature and purpose of the Church, particularly its mandate to preach the gospel of the kingdom throughout the world as a witness to all nations; “and then the end will come” (Mt. 24:14).

Glasser , A. F., “Pentecost“ In ISBE, revised, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, vol. 3, (WM. B. Eerdmans, 1988; 2002), 757.

Old Testament II. Topics for Final Exam. (High Level)

OT – Final Exam (April 15, 2011).
Study Guide.  (H means Handout, N means Notes, F means File).

I.     Kings & Chronicles: A Comparison.
II.     The Book of Proverbs.
1.  The Structure of Proverbs. (H.II.1) 2.  Editorial: Statement of Purpose. (N.p7.)
3.  Excursus: Wisdom (hok ma). (N.p7-8.)
4.  Outline of Proverbs 1:1-9:18. Ten Homilies. (H.II.2)
5.  First Homily: Warning Against Violence: 1:8-19. (H.II.3)
6.  Second Homily: How to be Fortified within: 2:1-22. (F.II.1, N.p9.)
7.  Third Homily: Blessings of fearing God: 3:1-20. (N.p10)
8.  Are Proverbs true or false?: 8 perspective. (N.p10-11)
III.     The Book of Psalms.
1.  Psalm Titles. (H.III.1, N.p.11)
2.  Interpretation of Psalms. (F.III.1, N.p12-15)
IV.     How to Interpret the Prophets.
1.  Understanding the Prophets: 6 Topics. (F.IV.1, N.p15-18)
2.  Isaiah 5:1-30. (H.IV.1, N.p16)
3.  Resumptive Technique. The Book of Isaiah. (H.IV.2, N.p17)
4.  Exodus 15. (H.IV.3, N.p18)
5.  Near versus Distant Future. Isaiah 13-27; 28-35; 33-35. (H.IV.4, N.p18)
6.  Jeremiah. (F.IV.3-4)
7.  Ezekiel: Outline. (F.IV.5, N.p19)
8.  Amos: Outline. (F.IV.6, N.p19)
9.  Reasons for the Unity of Job. (H.IV.5, N.p20)
10. Daniel’s Unity (Chiastic): Outline. (F.IV.7, cf.F.IV.8)
11. Daniel’s event dating. (F.IV.9)
12. The Son of Man in Daniel 7. (F.IV.10)

The Confession of Saint Patrick (34).

Thus I give untiring thanks to God who kept me faithful in the day of my temptation, so that today I may confidently over my soul as a living sacrifice for Christ my Lord; who am I, Lord? or, rather, what is my calling? that you appeared to me in so great a divine quality, so that today among the barbarians I might constantly exalt and magnify your name in whatever place I should be, and not only in good fortune, but even in affliction? So that whatever befalls me, be it good or bad, I should accept it equally, and give thanks always to God who revealed to me that I might trust in him, implicitly and forever, and who will encourage me so that, ignorant, and in the last days, I may dare to undertake so devout and so wonderful a work; so that I might imitate one of those whom, once, long ago, the Lord already pre-ordained to be heralds of his Gospel to witness to all peoples to the ends of the earth. So are we seeing, and so it is fulfilled; behold, we are witnesses because the Gospel has been preached as far as the places beyond which no man lives. (Patrick, (c.389–461))

http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/p01.html

First three weeks at Seminary!

It has been three weeks since I started classes at the Toronto Baptist Seminary and it has been a great blessing. The homework is rapidly progressing and every minute of the day is needed.

I am taking the following four courses:

Church History I: early church fathers
Hermeneutics
Greek grammar 1
Graduate Research and Writing

In November 4, Lord willing I start taking Theology of Missions as well.

I am truly and deeply blessed in having the great opportunity of pursuing full time studies.

Thanks for your prayers.